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Best Board Games for Teens in 2024

It isn’t no easy task finding the best board games for teens. So many variables in terms of likes, dislikes, attention span, patience and boredom levels and a whole lot of other stuff that teenagers have to wrestle with.

Themed games can work well, or something more challenging for those brainy teens, then games that are purely fun and laughter are best suited for certain types, or fast paced with a short play time suits many.

We’ve put together a cool selection of the best board games for teenagers from the age of 13 – 19 that aim to please.

Top 10 Board Games for Teenagers

Let’s take a look at some of the best, popular, not so popular and a couple that attract a certain teenagers taste in tabletop games.

7 Wonders Duel – Best Two Player

Launched in 2015, 7 Wonders Duel involves players leading a civilization and collecting cards to construct wonders and buildings over the course of three ages. The game involves players acquiring cards that either boost their military, aid scientific development or add resources. This supports the development of your civilization to complete 27 wonders.

7 Wonders Duel board game 2 players box


7 Wonders Duel at a Glance

Game Type
Card Game
City Building
Civilization

Play Time
30 mins (approx)
Skill/Complexity (3.5 - 5)
Above average
in complexity.
Not for beginners in
strategy based games.

Age
10+
Publisher(s)
Respos Productions
Published
2015
Categories
2 Player / Strategy
Players
2 Players
Rules Manual
US Official Rules PDF
Our Rating
9.5/10
Cost
$29.99 approx

7 Wonders is ideal for teenagers that want to engage in more developed strategy games that require thinking skills and some complexity.

Players immerse themselves and get lost in this fast-paced civilization building game without concern of time, although a round of the game can be completed in 30 minutes or so. Thoroughly enjoyable and engaging that’s ideal for the slightly more serious teen gamers.


Trekking The National Parks – Best Family and Teens Outdoorsy Game

Trekking The National Parks Board Game Box

Would you like the sense of trekking trails and canoeing in swampy waters with alligators while playing a board game? Well, Trekking The National Parks is the game to play. Teenagers of all ages and above with their families love much about this card drafting type game.

Trekking the National Parks at a Glance

Game Type
Outdoor Theme
Point to Point Movement
Travel
Card Drafting

Play Time
30 - 60 mins
Skill/Complexity (2 - 5)
Light Complexity
Age
10+
Publisher(s)
Bink Ink LLC
Underdog Games
Published
2018
Categories
Teens / Family
Players
2 - 5 (4 is perfect)
Rules Manual
Official Rules PDF
Our Rating
9/10
Cost
Approx $49.99

It offers subtle complexity in terms of how to beat the other players and has strong replay value. An adventure game like this keeps players engaged while really enjoying aspects of the theme that bring it alive and tactical decisions that make them think.

A game all families with youngsters aged 10 or over might want to consider.


Quelf – Party and Laugh at each other Obeying

Quelf Board Game

Relax, Quelf is a board game that’s purely about fun, and a lot of it. You must Obey is the main rule and who knows what stupid stuff you’ll have to do next to stay in the game. You could be singing, dancing, or answering a ridiculous trivia question on your next round, and the great thing is you get to watch the next person do their obeying.

Quelf at a Glance

Game Type
Party
Trivia
Acting (i,e,. singing, dancing, performing etc.)
Roll and Move

Play Time
60 mins
Skill/Complexity (1 - 5)
Non-Complex (just have fun)
Age
12+
Publisher(s)
Spinmaster Games, Wiggity Bang Games and others
Published
2005
Categories
Family / Party / Teens
Players
4 - 8 +
Manual
Official Rules PDF

Our Rating
7/10
Cost
Approx $29.95

Quelf is a simple game to set up with a board and roll the die then move. It’s the stuff in between that makes this a party game that’s ideal for families and has youngsters rolling around in fits of laughter. It’s not the most top rated of games, however, for this teenagers category it’s a perfect fit. It’s a simplistic fun and laughter board game!


Spontaneous – Sing It or Shout It

Like the game above Quelf this is a simplistic party game that’s all about having a laugh which i found perfect for our teenagers, and as a silly family pastime thing. As the box states you don’t need to be talented to play, just sing how you like. Spontuneous uses a board and dice to get you around the game, and can be played with anyone above the age of 8.

Spontuneous Board Game Box


Spontuneous at a Glance

Game Type
Music Theme
Party
Word Association
Play Time
30 mins
Skill/Complexity (1 - 5)
Non-Complex
Age
8+
Publisher(s)
Spontuneous Games
Published
2010
Categories
Party / Family
Kids
Players
4 - 10
Rules Manual
Official Rules PDF
Our Rating
8.5/10
Cost
$29.99 +

There’s no complexity to this game. All it requires is players to be up for having fun and the more that come to play ‘the more the merrier’ makes it more fun.

Do not worry if can’t or don’t want to sing, just SHOUT the name of the song!


Relative Insanity – Best Humorous Party Game

Relative Insanity Box and cards

Another party game well worth a mention is the card game ‘Relative Insanity’ which is all about making all family members belly laugh out loud. It’s designed to be played with family member’s and friends as the set up and punchline cards relate to family.

Relative Insanity at a Glance

Game Type
Party Card Game


Play Time
30 mins
Skill/Complexity (1 - 5)
Non-Complex (just have fun)
Age
14+
Publisher(s)
PlayMonster
Published
2017
Categories
Family / Party / Teens
Players
4 - 12
Manual
Official Rules PDF

Our Rating
7/10
Cost
Approx $14.95

I would like to offer caution to those that are easily offended as some statements or words may not be everyone’s idea of fun. It’s not quite as vulgar as Cards Against Humanity that some players have felt about that game but it does edge toward that, at times. For some families that are open with language including light sexual stuff it ‘s a barrel of laughs.

It’s a crazy game intended to make people laugh a lot at themselves and others, but not for the more conservative and younger teens.


Ticket to Ride – Best family and Teen All-Rounder

The award winning Ticket To Ride still holds one of the top spots within the family category of board games despite being released in 2004. This cross country train themed game takes players on an adventure while collecting train car cards enabling players to claim railway routes that connect cities within North America (other versions around the world are also available now).

Ticket to Ride Board Game


Ticket to Ride at a Glance

Game Type
Train Theme, Card
Drafting, Network and
Route Building
Play Time
60 mins
Skill/Complexity (2 - 5)
Light to Medium
Age
8+
Publisher(s)
Days of Wonder
Published
2004
Categories
Family / Strategy
Players
2 - 5
Rules Manual
Official Rules PDF
Our Rating
9/10
Cost
$49.99

Ticket To Ride can be a great introduction to the world of better played board games then maybe onto more complex games. It suits just about everyone from a non-gamer to the guys over at board games geek, and of course teenagers playing with family or friends.

While set up is very simple and the rules can be picked up in no time – getting good at it takes much longer that gives it excellent replay value.


Phone Phever – Blend your Smartphone

Phone Phever Board Game Box

I know i am always trying to encourage our youth to reduce their time of mobile devices and do activities with real humans, but Phone Phever is pretty cool as it blends the best of both worlds. It’s a trivia based game so there is an educational aspect and the need to use your mind and phone.

Phone Phever at a Glance

Game Type
Trivia with Mobile
Roll and Move
Play Time
30 mins +
Skill/Complexity (2 - 5)
Trivia Knowledge


Age
13+
Publisher(s)
Bear Mountain Games
Published
2015
Categories
Trivia / Family / Party
Players
3 - 10 +
Rules Manual
Official Rules PDF
Our Rating
7/10
Cost
$29.99 approx

An excellent aspect of this game if you’re knowledgeable is you may answer correctly without googleing the answer which guarantees you to answer first, moving you forward in the game ahead of other players. Being Tech savvy can kind of win the game, but then again knowing the idea of the trivia question before searching gets you way ahead of others that are iphone user experts.

It’s a blast for all the family, and it’s ideal for those age 13 or over. I didn’t realize smartphones and a board game could mix so well.


Last Night on Earth – Best Zombie Game for Teens

As this category is geared towards teens how could a game including Zombies not be included. Being a thematic game it does attract those that like anything themed on horrors and of course Zombies, although anyone that enjoys a good board game with a medium level of complexity can get into playing the Last Night on Earth.

Last night on Earth board game box

Last Night on Earth at a Glance

Game Type
Thematic
Horror
Zombies
Dice Rolling
Roll and Move

Play Time
60 - 90 mins
Skill/Complexity (3 - 5)
Medium in Complexity
Requires Luck and
light Strategy, but remains Fun

Age
12+
Publisher(s)
Flying Frog Productions
Published
2007
Categories
Family / Teens /
Thematic / Strategy
Players
2 - 6
Manual
Official Rules PDF

Our Rating
7/10
Cost
Approx $46.95

The cards used to play can be very funny and does give you the feel of the movie. There is more strategy involved when you’re a hero rather than a zombie although zombies do need to coordinate their card play. Having five scenarios that can be played out adds to the replay value of this game.

Excellent choice for teenagers that love zombie themed stuff or light strategy, or even both.


Monopoly Fortnite Edition – Fortnite Fans

monopoly fortnite edition box

Inspired by the video game ‘Fortnite’ that teenagers around the world became obsessed at playing the Fortnite edition of Monopoly published in 2018 has been a hit among teens. Rather than the aim of the game being to own houses and hotels like the original classic Monopoly game, Fortnite is all about survival while claiming locations and battling opponents.

Monopoly Fortnite at a Glance

Game Type
Thematic
Dice Rolling
Roll and Move
Player Elimination

Play Time
120 mins
Skill/Complexity (1.5 - 5)
Non-Complex
Age
13+
Publisher(s)
Hasbro
Published
2018
Categories
Family / Teens /
Thematic
Players
2 - 7
Manual
Official Rules PDF

Our Rating
7/10
Cost
Approx $14.95

There’s no need for a lot of cash in this edition , however, you do need plenty of health points to survive. There’s an action die that enables players to pick up health packs and other benefits and numbered die,  which makes these variants of the classic game more fun in a sense for teenagers.

If you enjoy the classic Monopoly and or have teenagers that are fans of the video game ‘Fortnite’ then it’s worth checking this version out.


Unstable Unicorns – Best Party

Unstable Unicorns is a Kickstarter crowdfunded game that came on the market in 2017 and become a hit straight off the press. It’s a straight forward card tabletop game without a board that’s based on those cute Unicorns that teens have being going crazy about for some time now.

Unstable Unicorns game

Unstable Unicorns at a Glance

Game Type
Card Game
Party & Humor

Play Time
30 mins
Skill/Complexity (1.5 - 5)
Non-Complex
Age
14+
Publisher(s)
TeeTurtle, Unstable Games and others
Published
2017
Categories
Family / Teens / Party
Players
3 - 6
Manual
Official Rules PDF

Our Rating
8.5/10
Cost
Approx $19.95

The object of the game is to build an army of Unicorns and protect each of them in the stable, possibly with magic until the stable has the correct limit of these wonderful creatures. This game does appeal to teenager daughters more so than the boys although many boys do love it. It’s a lot like the game Exploding Kittens, but there is more skill and thought involved when playing this game. There is more to Unstable Unicorns that meets they eye, but it isn’t complex.


Pandemic – Cooperate with Players

This medical themed game has a short play time of 45 + minutes that’s perfect for families playing. The working together to prevent diseases becoming an epidemic makes working together make perfect sense, and teenagers around the world connect very well to the game.

Pandemic board game box


Pandemic at a Glance

Game Type
Cooperative, Medical
Theme, Action Points,
Point to Point Movement,
Variable Player Powers
Play Time
45 mins
Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5)
Light - Medium
Age
8+
Publisher(s)
Z-Man Games
Published
2008
Categories
Strategy
Family
Players
2 - 4
Rules Manual
Official Rules PDF
Our Rating
9.3/10
Cost
$39.99

Pandemic requires co-operation, players will need to work together and that is a skill in itself. Cooperative play, trading and point to point movement are mechanisms within the game and so, these could prove difficult for very young players, however, for those that want some complexity this is a game to play.

Quick Summary

I have only included the top ten rather than give you a list of many as this keeps choosing pretty tight and accurate, I hope.

There’s a board game to suit every teenager from humorous Quelf or Relative Insanity, to something with complexity and introducing youngsters to complex games like Pandemic and 7 Wonders Duel and then the awesome family games – Ticket To Ride and Trekking the National Parks.

Themed games have a way of getting teens into tabletop games which is why i added Monopoly Fortnite and Last Night on Earth (Zombie game).